India-China Relations

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is becoming increasingly significant in the world arena, with the United States, India and China—the most important stakeholders in the region—playing substantial roles. Judging from the three countries' strategic thought, concerns, interests and power balances, it is the US–India potential competition for maritime dominance in the IOR that demands the most attention. However, competition does not mean confrontation.

• Lou Chunhao
• July 2012
• Strategic Analysis

Given the urgent need to build strategic roads along the India-China border, the Ministry of Home has sanctioned Rs.1,934 crore for strategic road projects of about 804 kms.

• Namrata Goswami
• June 07, 2012
• IDSA Comments

New Delhi has long countenanced the idea of extra-regional operations. The Maritime Military Strategy published in 2007, for instance, lists the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean among ‘secondary areas’ of endeavour for the Indian sea services. ‘Areas of secondary interest will come in where there is a direct connection with areas of primary interest, or where they impinge on the deployment of future maritime forces.’ 1 The South China Sea abuts the Indian Ocean, the most compelling zone of primary interest for New Delhi, through the Malacca Strait.

• James R. Holmes
• May 2012
• Strategic Analysis

The Indian Ocean has long been a hub of great power rivalry and the struggle for its domination has been a perennial feature of global politics. It is the third largest of the world's five oceans and touches Asia in the north, Africa in the west, Indo-China in the east, and Antarctica in the south. Home to four critical access waterways—the Suez Canal, Bab-el Mandeb, the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca—the Indian Ocean connects the Middle East, Africa and East Asia with Europe and the Americas.

• Harsh V. Pant
• May 2012
• Strategic Analysis

India needs to shore up its military capabilities in Arunchal Pradesh in order to strengthen its defence posture in the eastern sector, improve governance in the state to gain the full backing of the people and adopt a flexible stance to resolve the border dispute with China.

• Namrata Goswami
• April 19, 2012
• Issue Brief

In addition to their alternative vision on political issues, the RIC Foreign Ministers’ meet is gradually expanding trilateral cooperation in several sectors, including disaster relief, agriculture and public health.

• Swaran Singh
• April 19, 2012
• IDSA Comments

India-China relations, though occasionally showing signs of peace and cooperation, have often been afflicted by tension and mistrust. With the potential to make big contributions to regional peace and development, these two Asian powers have, by design or accident, themselves been the sources of regional tension and insecurity to some extent. Besides their internal dynamics, the interplay of interests and moves of their neigbours, and several external powers would have significant bearing on the equation and relations between them.

• J.K. Baral
• April 2012
• Journal of Defence Studies

After assessing the weaknesses and gaps in Chinese capabilities and highlighting the positions of advantage that India enjoys, this essay proposes a strategy for a strong riposte against any Chinese adventurism.

• Lalit Kumar
• January 17, 2012
• Policy Brief

While India’s ability to handle the challenges may be constrained by a slowing economy, it would need to manage them through requisite diplomatic skill and finesse.

• Arvind Gupta
• January 03, 2012
• IDSA Comments

India must actively engage the island nations in the Western Indian Ocean and enhance the scope and deployment of the Indian Navy and its air aim in these waters.

• Mandip Singh
• December 15, 2011
• IDSA Comments